Locked faucet



July 9,1946; R. M. WILSON 2,403,837

LOCKED FAUCET v Filed Sept. 1:5, 1944 Fjchz WITNESSES INVENTOR:

-My invention relates to a locked valve Patented July 9, 1946 M. Wilsons SonsyLansdale, Pa., a firm composed of Robert G. Wilson and Ronald Wilson Application September 13, 1944; Serial N .-55 3,845

1 Claim.

used to control the flow of liquid through a faucet which is opened by pressure upon an actuating lever which bears upon the exposed end of a valve stem carrying a valve seated to close the faucet by the pressure of an opposing spring, but unseated and opened by. pressure applied to the exposed end of the valve stem by the actuating lever which is pivoted upon the faucet.

Such constructions have been used before, and it is not novel to protect such valve against unauthorized opening by the use of a look (as for example a padlock) which prevents-the lever from being actuated to exert pressure upon the valve stem unless the padlock is removed. But

it has been found that such prior devices are capable of being tampered with notwithstanding the partial protection which has heretofore been afforded to the projecting end of the valve stem. By my invention I have accomplisheda form and arrangement of the pressure lever and its opposing parts such that it is not possible without the removal of the padlock to apply pressure on the top of the valve stem to open the valve and release liquid through the faucet.

I will now describe and claim the means whereby this desirable end is accomplished.

In the accompanying drawing;

Fig. l is a side view partly in section of a faucet to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same with the pressure lever removed and the stem shown in section.

In these figures, the reference numeral I designates the main body of a faucet which terminates in a down-turned outlet 2. The faucet contains the valve seat 3 upon which the valve 4 is seated .by virtue of the pressure of the spring 5 interposed between the valve and a shoulder 6 formed in the interior of the faucet. The valve 4 has a central valve stem I one end of which reaches within the spring while the other end is projected through a suitable aperture 8 in the top of the outlet 2 and terminates in a rounded top 9. 'Upon the outlet 2 and in proximity to the projecting valve stem I is a large lug I0 to which is pivoted, by the pintle' II, an actuating lever I2. The faucet also'carries a guide projection I3 which passes through a corresponding slot I5 in the lever I2,'the shape of the projection I3 and the length of theslot I5 being such that when the lever I2 is in its uppermost position no space is left'for the insertion of a tampering instrument. The prosuitable to receive the hasp of a padlock, not

shown, which when thus placed prevents depression of the lever I2; but when such padlock is removed the lever I2 may be further depressed so as to bear against the projecting end of the valve stem I and exert upon it sufll- V cient pressure to oppose the spring 5 and unseat the valve 4 releasing the flow of liquid through the faucet.

valve stem I passes and is there enlarged sufilciently to considerably increase the extent of the bearing of said stem in the faucet. -An opposing thickening 20' of the inner wall of the faucet supplements the lug I!) so that there is provided an extensive guide surface for the valve stem I insuring the proper seating of the valve 4 and preventing escape of liquid around said stem where it pierces the top of the faucet. The lug Ill is projected beyond the valve stem aperture 8 and shaped to provide a raised guarding surface. II. The actuating lever I2 has its sides turned down to form the flanges I 8, I8 which pass with only sufficient clearance one on each side of the lug I0, and between these flanges there is formed a cross-web I9 reaching from side to side and so placed and shaped that its edge 2I when the lever I2 is in the locked position is in close proximity to the guarding surface 11 of the lug II], the proximity of the two effectually preventing the insertion of any instrument which, if forced under said lever, might be used to wrongfully push down the valve stem I against the valve spring 5'.

It will thus be seen that by means of the catch extension I4 of the guide projection I3, the enlarged guarding surface ll of the lug Ill and the cross-Web I9 :between the flanges I8 of the lever I2 a structure and combination of parts is provided which effectually encloses and protects the valve stem I from being depressed so long as the padlock remains in place but, upon removal of they pad1ock,,ha'nd pressure readily operates the valve 4 permitting flow of liquid through thefaucet. V

Having thus described my invention, I claim: A locked. faucet comprising in combination a main body having a down-turned outlet por-q tion; a spring pressed valve and projecting valve stem, respectively coactive with a seat in said body and an aperture through the wall of said outlet portion; a lug on the faucet surroundin the projecting valve stem where it extends through the outlet portion of the faucet; an actuating lever with/side flanges spacedto closelvi flank and lap'the lug; an apertured ear forming a part of the lug to which the actuating lever is pivoted below and in position to push the valve stem inwards in opposition to the spring for opening the valve, and said apertured'ear closing-in the pivotally connected=end of said actuating lever; a guide projection on the faucet above the lug with extension through a corresponding slot in the actuating lever, said projection being provided at :its free end witha;

actuating .lever; and a raised guarding surface provided on the lug extending into close proximity to the outer end of the actuating lever cross-web whereby the projecting end of the valve stem is surroundingly closed-in and made positively inaccessible when said lever is in locked position.

- RONALD M. WILSON. 

